Tuesday, May 17, 2011

NEW POST

TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE SEWER ARTICLE? FINE, LET'S GIVE SOME OF YOU MALCONTENTS SOMETHING NEW TO LOOK AND TALK AND KNOCK ABOUT. HOW'S THAT?

LET'S SEE. WHAT SHALL WE FRIGGIN' TALK ABOUT? LET'S START WITH THINGS GOING ON NATIONALLY RIGHT NOW. THE CASEY ANTHONY/CAYLEE ANTHONY TRIAL GETTING UNDERWAY IS GETTING ON MY LAST NERVE. THE TROUBLE SEATING A JURY IS UNDERSTANDABLE WITH THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THIS CASE HAS RECEIVED. BUT, HEY, WE COULD SEAT A TRIAL A FEW COUNTIES AWAY FOR THE DAVID CAMM CASE (WHICH SHOULD BE REARING ITS UGLY HEAD SOON).

LOCALLY, AND ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL, A LOT OF THINGS HEADED TOWARDS A SHOWDOWN. WE HAVE ELECTIONS, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE TO PAY FOR, AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING ASKED FOR BY DNA FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET, WE HAVE OVER A $3 MILLION (THREE MILLION) DOLLAR SHORTFALL TO CUT FROM THE BUDGET, CANDIDATES WILL BE LOOKING FOR A NEW FIRE CHIEF AND POLICE CHIEF, BENEDETTI'S TRIAL, ETC. HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE GO ON?

WE'LL SAY WHAT WE WANT TO SAY AND WHEN WE WANT TO SAY IT. WE WILL SAY WE BELIEVE SOMEONE DIDN'T WANT AND TOLD MAYOR ENGLAND HE COULD NOT RUN FOR MAYOR. WE BELIEVE THIS THE REASON WHY HE CHOKED UP WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT.

WE BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHY DID SIPES NOT SUPPORT ENGLAND'S CANDIDATE IN STUMLER AND INSTEAD ENDORSE JEFF GAHAN? WE ARE SIMPLY WONDERING. WE ARE HAPPY, BUT WE ALL KNOW SIPES AND ENGLAND WERE THE BEST OF BUDDIES AT ONE TIME. GO SIPES.

WE DO KNOW THE SEWERS FAILED THE CITY DESIGNED 100 YEAR STORM PLAN AND WITH OUR MONEY WHEN THE CITY WAS TOLD THE PLAN WOULDN'T WORK. THERE WILL BE REPERCUSSIONS HERE, ALSO. THERE IS A SERIOUS QUESTION AS TO WHY THAT PARTICULAR PLAN WAS CHOSEN, AFTER THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC HAD SEEN THE VOTE GO THE OTHER WAY AND THE EPA SAYING THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNTIL THE PLAN FAILED. TELL US.

A new post? And it sounds like we're fed up. Joe Citizen, where are you? Surely, you're fed up with SOMETHING.

To all the readers, I, for one, think that we cannot do enough to support our police. And, frankly, we probably don't have enough police protection. Obviously, they're in need of additional forces downtown (ever see the Indiana State Police around downtown?).

However, we MUST figure out how to have adequate (or better) police protection without robbing ourselves silly.

One step might be, in fact, to get rid of our thief, I mean, mayor. But there's much more we can do.

Also, we don't want this same thief to serve on our City Council. So, CITIZENS, you must move earth and sky to get people to see that voting for Doug England is a vote to give him more of their money. Don't waste time telling it on here. WE already know it. Get the word to the people.

Finally, support people for election based on their ability to think thoroughly through any situation and come up with a solution. It doesn't have to be the person with whom you most agree, but a wise thinker, someone who'll come up with an answer that addresses the most critical issues. And the people we elect MUST be unafraid to but heads with those who use threats and coercion to make us "mind."

This "little Chicago" we have down here has GOT to change. For our children and grandchildren, if not for ourselves. It is up to us to turn things around.

Yes we should support our police! And yes we should look at more fuel efficient vehicles for police cars. From what I read a ford police interceptor gets 14mpg. There are cars out there that can run like a scalded ape, but get up to 30mpg. How well will that help if we could cut the fuel bill in half?Unfortunately, I do not support Gahan for mayor for one simple reason, he may well be a hell of a guy, but he is a hell of a guy who has been in play in the politics of this city for years now.I do not support and will not vote for England for the council, for the same reason.We need NEW blood in our government. We need people who will be open, honest, and not come with baggage. We need people who will not play into to partisan games, or continue to carry on grudges with other people in other departments.I do support the development along the river for downtown, even if we have to foot some of the bill. Time for us to get a slice of that riverfront pie, like Cville, Jeff, Louisville, Madison, Evansville, Covington, and so on. Why let our sit there and just be a target for vandalism, recycling centers and trashy little skate park.Sewers and the 100 year storm? Trying to base a plan for a public utility for weather events that MAY occur in the course of 100 years is absurd. There is no way to possibly plan for such a storm and the utilities know this. To think otherwise, and do studies that cost money is money wasted that could be used for infrastructure improvements. Think about it, if utilities were able to prepare for future storms, wouldn’t the first step be to put phone, electric and cable wires underground so there is not the constant need to repair and replace them every time there is bad wind?

I'm not so sure about Clere either. I have nothing against him, but I also have nothing for him either. I would like to see a person who is from a background of strong business management, perhaps with accounting experience, and a proven track record of being a do-er, not another talker. Definitely not another politician, or the buddy of a politician, or family member of current politician. Someone with the ability to run our city, but with the ability also to be able to talk shop, from experience, with companies looking to locate here, or helping to keep companies here and help them expand. Back to police: Why not buy a prisoner transport van, and keep the cops on the streets, not tied up taking people they arrest to jail. Look at motorcycles for radar and stuff, again using a prisoner van to pick any arrests.Then, get these prisoners out of the county jail and put them to work cleaning up trash in alleys, repainting curbs, don’t let them sit in jail watching TV.

I like the idea of a prisoner transport van. You're right about wasting officers' time. Also, about using motorcycles. Why do we have these gas-guzzling sedans sitting with motors on watching for speeders? We need to start thinking of ways like this to conserve.

I am NOT for letting go of police officers. We need more, not less, of the boots on the ground. I don't think people realize what gets done and how well protected we are. I don't think our officers sit around eating donuts all day, and I don't think that tax dollars are wasted on manpower. But other things, like gas and mechanical things, we waste like crazy.

I also like the idea of getting prisoners to work. They shouldn't sit around and watch TV. They also, need to learn how to handle responsibility. It's a very good thing to keep prisoners a part of society.

I also like the idea of Ed Clere as mayor, but only if he has a twin brother. Clere needs to keep doing what he's doing in Indianapolis. Until he ran, nobody cared a hoot about a state representative. Now, at least, we're all engaged with what the General Assembly is doing. I admire Clere a lot. He's as good as they come.

Why does it feel things are actually "starting to come around"? Is it me, or something in the air?

The decent, common, hardworking peoples of this here New Albany coming into a new day, a decent day, a day where our children will one day look back on us and say hey - THEY did it! And they did it the right way. They cleaned up the town and business is great. What words I hope my kids say to me one day.

6:56A true England foot soldier would not publicly say they do not want him elected as council at large. A true England foot soldier would not look to other cities who have successfully adopted nonconventional means to find ways to trim the budget. An England foot soldier would not look for ways to keep cops on the street, they would want them off of the streets.

Joe, I have to register my disagreement here. A true England foot soldier would want more police, so long as it is city police.

JMHO.

Rog, I disagree with you too. Rep. Clere's vote might mean he wants to stop his and our tax dollars from funding abortion. Abortion is wrong, not from a religious standpoint, but from a human rights standpoint, and certainly from a caring about the welfare of women standpoint. But I don't ever expect you to agree with me on that, so I'll just let you think what you think, and expect you to do the same for me, and leave it at that.

New Albanian, I am going to tell you a story that I know all too well. I don't expect you to understand it, but I expect you to read it and realize that there are people with different opinions, and good reasons for having those different opinions.

In late 1982, my mom visited Planned Parenthood. She found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend told her that she had to get an abortion or he'd do something to her (she never told me exactly what his threats were-it might have been that he'd leave her and it might have been that he'd kill her, I don't know). So, my mom scheduled an appointment.

At Planned Parenthood, they asked her if she was sure she wanted an abortion. She said that she wasn't. The lady said that she'd feel better afterward and sent her in to the room where they would get her ready for surgery.

She had an abortion.

A few months later, Mom realized that the abortion didn't solve her "problem." She was still pregnant. When she told her boyfriend, he beat her and dumped her on the road. She never saw him again.

Mom limped home to her parents and they took her to a doctor. She was pregnant, all right, and it was a healthy baby boy. I was born a couple of months after that.

Evidently, I was absolutely doted on because I had every advantage they could come up with for me. Mom and I lived with her parents for several years. Eventually, she married a nice guy (my step-dad) and we added some step-brothers to the house. I grew up (and so did my brothers) never knowing that Mom had gone to Planned Parenthood for an abortion.

And, all along, they did everything they could to give me a college education and everything possible to give me a great start into adult life.

6 years ago, Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She didn't live long. During that time, there was so much talk about her health history that, inevitably, her abortion came up. And she told me the story.

To hear Mom tell this to me, you'd have thought that she'd just been to Planned Parenthood the day before, it was so clear and vivid in her mind.

She said she was sorry, but she didn't need to. She more than made up for it by doing her very best to love me and give me a great life.

Mr. New ALbanian, I do not want to get into an argument with you about this. But you need to know that everybody doesn't think like you and everybody isn't mad as hell that the Planned Parenthood funding went bye-bye. Some people are sick and tired of hearing wanna-be hippies and their feel-good mantra that it's a great "loss" for women.

I don't know Mr. Clere or what his part in this may be, but I think I'm going to make it a point to go meet him and thank him. I've already written to Governor Daniels.

Planned parenthood does not just provide abortions. They provide contraceptives, cancer screenings, prenatal vitamins and so on. Its a political ploy and nothing more. And they will end up hurting more women than stopping abortions.

Well, guess what: if Planned Parenthood wanted to continue to provide those contraceptives, cancer screenings, prenatal vitamins, and so on, they can simply stop providing abortions. I'm fairly certain the funding would return.

Sounds to me like Planned Parenthood is using this as a political ploy to accuse opponents of abortion of "hurting women." Either that, or the "liberals" are using it as a ploy to make women believe that the Republicans are hurting them. Planned Parenthood has been given plenty of opportunity to stop the abortions. Their refusal = their OWN demise.

@ 27, and glad to be alive, I'm glad you're here too. You've added a lot to our discussions, and this latest message is certainly something we all need to think about.

If asking a question is bullying, as it is to you and Ed Clere, among others, then perhaps so. The story told by 27 is a sobering one, but it does not imply a universal conclusion. All I ask is to explain to me what hippies have to do with it. Anyone?

To whomever said if planned parenthood kept providing just the contraceptives the funding would come back. Where is the funding going to come from to pay for those contraceptives? How is that going to help the people who have no access for cervical cancer screenings, and find out too late to stop it? How about breast cancer, VD, HIV, trick, and dozens of other std's, and preventative services? I suppose those women and young girls can be considered acceptable collateral damage as long as what few abortions planned parenthood provided is stopped? What about medicaid and medicare payments made to private practice doctors who have prescribed RU 486 to a patient, any patient? It is a chemical form of abortion, and yet the prescribing docs can still get paid from medicaid and medicare for other stuff they are doing. It is hypocrisy at its ugliest, and it is an affront to women who rely on planned parenthood for things other than abortion, and those women out number the abortion clients 1000 to 1.

How about this: A girl was the victim of incest and rape by her father, or uncle or brother, and she is pregnant. Should she be forced to carry the baby to term? Should she be forced to raise that baby? Who is going to step up to do that? How about a woman who finds out early in her pregnancy that the baby has an extreme birth defect, like no brain, or the heart developed outside the fetus. Should she be forced to carry that baby for nine months to deliver a corpse? Would you want to go through that? Would you risk dying of toxic shock syndrome for a fetus that is only "alive" because your body is pumping blood and oxygen into it? If you want to split liberal/conservative hairs lets skip the politics and get to the bottom of this. Do you grant exceptions in extreme cases? If so, how do you justify that? How do you justify a return of the death rates for both mother and fetus when abortions were illegal and they were done at home, or some back alley make shift clinic?

All your big talk about cancer screenings: There are plenty of options for women who need their yearly "cancer screening" (as you all keep calling it, I assume, to make sure the word "cancer" is used. It's a PAP SMEAR). Young girls and women have a lot of options. Call your local hospital for a complete list.

Also, RU486 is just as bad. Abortion is abortion. Also, I don't think you know much about Planned Parenthood and what they do. The ratio is about 100 to 3.

Link that statistic to a factual page and I will buy it.A PAP smear IS a cancer screening for the early detection of cancers caused by Human papilloma virus. And what options are there for a woman with no health insurance, hardly any money. Sure call the hospital. If you are over 45 you can qualify for assistance with the indiana breast and cervical cancer program, how about the ones under 45? I see you refused to answer the question about incest, rape, and severely deformed fetuses. ANd you have still yet to offer one thing, ONE THING that justifies cutting the other services that PP offers. Or the fact that private docs can still receive government monies while performing abortions by way of RU 486. Lets hear your big talk.

"The ratio is about 100 to 3"11:28 are you saying that planned parenthood performs 100 abortions for every 3 non-abortion services they perform? *So of the annual 5,000,000 annual visits to PP facilities each year, all but 150,000 thousand of those visits were for abortions? (hey math fans that equal 4,850,000 abortions a year, in 10 years that would be more abortions than there are americans alive) *Reported statistics show that planned parenthood services each year prevents as many as 595,000 pregnancies.* in fiscal years 1999 to 2008 planned parenthood had an increase of 91% of appointments for screenings and contraceptive services by men. In fiscal year 2010, reported percentages of planned parenthood health services that are abortions are less than 3%.

Roger, we would like to submit our answer to a question. We, at Freedom of Speech, would like to tell you how certain things happened in this town.

Three weeks ago, a group of us were sitting at the Waffle House on Spring Street and who should appear but attorney Stephen Beardsley. So, we decided to ask him about the parking ticket debacle. Mr. Beardsley ordered his pecan pie and cuppa coffee and proceeded to tell us what really happened.

We questioned him about him refusing on TV to pay his over $26,000 worth of parking tickets, and he said that Marcey Wisman had decided to come after him.

Then, he laughed and said that what Ms. Wisman didn't know is that he had cut a deal with Douglas B. England and city attorney Shane Gibson: if he purchased 3 parking permits at $150 apiece, they would forgive the approximately $26,000 of parking tickets.

He also said that, as far as he was concerned, Marcey Wisman is done in this town.

He gave that signature laugh of his and concluded by saying that the funny thing about this whole debacle is that they only went back 3 years on this parking ticket issue, but actually, he hasn't paid parking tickets in a VERY long time.

What we recommend is that everyone who gets a parking ticket from this point on should contact Bart Betteau, who loves nothing better than to do class action suits against the city of New Albany.

Mr. Baylor, we hope that we have given you a true response to your questions, and since we're a bunch of racists who you doubt, why don't you call your buddy, Steve Beardsley?

Also, Mr. Baylor, we recommend that, since you paid your $20 parking ticket, you join us and other citizens in New Albany who have paid their parking tickets in contacting Mr. Betteau to file a class action suit against Mayor Douglas B. England and city attorney Shane Gibson.They gave him [Gibson] a break, but what about all the rest of us who have paid a ticket? I think the word is discrimination.

We enjoy enlightening you, Mr. Baylor, with the truth. You don't have to listen to us, Mr. Baylor, because we're a bunch of RACISTS, so why don't you call your friend Mr. Beardsley so he can laugh and tell you the same story he told all of us.

We hope that we have answered one of your questions, but we would rather you not submit us for a chance for a studio condo because this project will NEVER HAPPEN.

The moral of this story, Mr. Baylor is:

(1) where are you going to get $175,000 to sell chances on the condo?(2) how can you guarantee that there will ever be a studio condo?(3) what happens if there's not enough to cover the $175,000?

My life, as a patient of Planned Parenthood in my college days without insurance, is apparently worth nothing- as I was diagnosed with and treated for pre cancerous cells. No, there weren't other options for me to get care, but thanks for asking. Nice, guys.

How about the tens of thousands of women who obtained thei gaurdasil vaccinations through PP? Thats tens of thousands of women who's chances of contracting cancer causing strains of HPV has been nearly eliminted, and for life.Does that matter for anything, is that not protecting life?

Didn't any of you find it strange, that out of ALL THOSE PARKING TICKETS, only a certain persons had their name on them? Literally. The Clerk admitted that fact. All others simply had a license plate number.

Roger, I am not going to insult all the people on here by going on about the reason Planned Parenthood was begun and about Margaret Sanger's racist plan to keep black children from being born in a cynical plan to keep only the best and brightest breeding sucessfully. You already know this, yet you INSIST that Planned Parenthood is all about women's rights.

You're so full of listening to what the liberal rhetoric tells you that you don't even hear your own contrariness.

I disagree with you about Planned Parenthood. I also think you were rude to our 27-year-old friend. Please, PLEASE think about what you say before you go spouting off. Just THINK!

The Beardsley story is interesting, but what amazes me is that you say not one word on your blog about the England administration's apparent lack of ANY sense of fairness. You're so busy pandering to England, you can't even see the shoddy work our city attorney is doing day in and day out, even while you complain that the job he is doing is not getting done. Then, I notice that you've even been Tweeting him, giving him your tacit approval of his lazy performance.

What's become painfully evident, Roger, is that you have NO idea what you're talking about OR you purposely pretend that you don't so that you can play the part of rebellious "hippie."

As for "27," you called it exactly right when you referred to this babbling group as wannabe hippies. They sure wish they were, don't they!

Due process was done. He was provided the opportunity to resign with a severance package or be fired with no severance package. He chose to be fired. If you want to support Mr. Nash then give him your money so he can pay for his own private health insurance. What's wrong with medicare coverage Mr. Nash? You are still being taken care of by the government.

Nash admitted himself to the paper that he did not adhere to budget items and the Board stated to the paper that they wanted to go in a different direction. Nash also stated in the paper that he was not going to resign. So yep, that is why he was fired.

Hopefully he will just enjoy his retirement like he should have been doing a long long time ago. If his ego will not let him, then perhaps he will look into voluntering his time instead of having having to be compensated by the tax payers for everything. Good luck to you former king of solid waste.

Yes. I'm afraid Roger Baylor's bullying has gone too far. It's too bad. He could act in support of good things. When he does this, he does fine. Or, he can try to be a bee in somebody's or another's pants. Then, he's an angry bully.

Roger Baylor's not fluffin himself in the Tribune? How do you know that? I heard he thinks he has over a thousand recommendations for his column.

I already boycott his business. Specifically, I boycott it because of the way he trashes Vicki Denhart, the local party, and especially Ed Clere. I know a lot of people who do. Also, boycott his buddies in business downtown. For the same reason.

They don't realize that they burn bridges.

I have no interest in Baylor's business, his column, his blog, his beer--none of it. I don't even care if he comes on here and comments. When he comes on here, I ignore him. On purpose.

Sorry 8:27. But I just can not bring myself to understand the sense of this. Even if the New Albanian only intent is stir up trouble why devote so much energy and time in derision with him?But honestly, what we as citizens need is intelligent conversations, with meaningful dialog. We are what stands between the status quo of our city continuing to degrade, or making a unified front against the career politician who are more concerned with titles and positions, instead of working for the community that elected them. Maybe I will start my own site and encourage adult behavior and conversation, but allow anyone to comment at anytime.

I would like to thank Vicki Denhart and Citizens for Accountability members who are already standing and fighting for me and my family. I further encourage citizens to contact them who are in the line of fire for us and let them know we support them and will give no ground against the England administration. This assult on our community is an opportunity for us local citizens to make things right an provide an example for other communities.

I have been deputized by no one, and I didnt ask to be. Further I am not trying to protect him from anything. Personally I find it incredulous that the grown people here continue to fall into his baited trap and continue to keep his name on the tips of their tongues. As for why I do not comment on his blog, it appears to me that no one does, and quite frankly theres not much worth commentary.

The two guys who made the other proposal last night are in business with England. They own the Boxtree Inn together, with other properties. One is a twice convicted felon for real estate scams out of California.

Does anyone still have the 26th's newspaper, legal section? There was a noticed published yesterday about major sewer expenditures dated yesterday, but the meeting was yesterday morning at 10:00 am, I think. Can anyone verify what this legal said and how can this be when the legal has to run 3 times?

It's time for Welch to step down and put the billing back into Indiana American Waters hands. This is all a scam to let certain people out of paying their sewer bills.November is coming up and surely Gahan will put a stop to all of this!

Notice how the Cleres never go around bashing any of them, even those who are the worst among them. I heard a story from someone else about Randy Smith who had rudely snubbed Mrs. Clere. I had a friend who knows her ask her about it and she said, "Oh, he did? I don't remember it." Yet, Steve was EMPHATIC when he told me the story. You could tell it had happened just as he was telling it. I found that VERY interesting...

We HAVE to have a more civil environment around here, and getting Nash's column out of the paper is just one of many things that would get us on our way.

We're having a COOK-OUT! The first of the season! But I had to come in, so I'm sitting here in the kitchen checking on Kitchen Table. LOL

I'll call about Nash's column too. I've never read it, but I'll go check out this Clere-bashing. I get sick of that. They make the entire Democrat Party look like mean idiots. Haven't heard that story about Smith, but totally not suprised. He's a real mean character. Very hateful. I've boycotted his store for years.

Those bullies never served their country--OUR country. Why, I've seen Fluffinstuff purposely get up and start walking around and drink beer when they've played or sang the national anthem. He thinks he's from some country in Europe. Yell, right.

Summer has begun and I'm off work for two weeks! Gonna get in some yard work! Too bad it's as hot as H*<< outside!

Came in to get on here. My, but all you "malcontents" have been busy!

But, I'm glad you gave me the heads up on the Clere bashing. There's no call for that sort of thing and I, too, will be contacting Bill Hanson about the Nash column. I never read it until today. You all talked about the recent column, so I read all the columns for the past 6 months. The guy says nothing. Absolutely nothing. He needs to go, just like his dad needed to go.

On to a matter that is really a sore spot with me: this ongoing attack on Vicki. Unwanted. It looks like I needed to be checking in more often. This "FAUX" crap needs to end. When they take the hardest-working people with the most integrity and try to destroy them with S-L-A-N-D-E-R. Just keep it up. I'll be keeping a close eye on things.

They think they're a thorn in our side, but they have no idea what pandanus utilis is like until they meet one!

Rather than turn immediately to censorship, why doesn't one or both of you ask to have your own guest column? You could then refute folks like Matt, there'd be a genuine exchange of ideas, and ... oh, right; forgot; they'd make you sign your name, wouldn't they?

In case you didn't know, Mr. Clere is a politician and by being so he opens himself up to criticism from the people. If Matt Nash is not allowed to have his "freedom of speech", then why are you allowed to say anything negative about him?

It is sad to see some of the personal attacks that go on here, yet you want Matt to stop writing his column. Talk about hypocrytes....

Hmmm...So, you're justifying your attacks, eh? Well, Mr. Clere has never done anything to deserve what some people dish out. We have people sitting in public office who not only drain the public of tax dollars, they also pocket money hand over fist, yet they seem to get of Scott free. You SHOULD be challenging THEM! But, no, you're so stuck on your ideologies that you just can't stand to be civil to an honest public official just because he belongs to a different party.

You really ought to cut to the chase and begin each time with the title, ATTACK ON REPUBLICANS by Malcontent X, or something like that.

This blog is not intended to be your bully pulpit. At least one among you has promised to use every bully pulpit at his disposal. This shall not be one of them.

You're completely wrong, 5:30. Mr. Clere has had a lot more to do with projects and funding than most people know around here and the city administration chooses to wrest all credit AWAY from Clere instead of work WITH him. Pretty moronic thing to do, actually.

Of course, you'll go on thinking what you said is right, but for every one thing you KNOW about that Clere has done, he's done a dozen things you know nothing about.

I know him, I know his family, and I know, for a fact, many of the things he has done for which he has sought NO credit, and which has benefited even YOU, unbeknown by you and most everyone else. Just ask anyone outside your usual sphere of gossip.

I think Ed Clere is interesting, but I'm more interested right now in what in the heck is going on with our city administration and the wool they're trying to pull over our eyes with this stupid River View project the mayor is so determined to shove at us ("it WILL be done"). What I want to know is what exactly are they proposing as to FUNDING for this project? Looks to me like N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

I attended the public meeting last night, and I continue to have problems with RV.

Last night, there was information, misinformation and non-information. Sorting through it is the immediate task.

Moreover, I continue to find it peculiar that given the magnitude of this project, and the urgency for us to pick a winner in this fashion, the mayor continues to rely on his deputy to advocate.

But by his own choice, the mayor is now a lame duck. Soon there'll be not time left to expend his political capital. If he really is for this expenditure, then shouldn't it be time for him to personally campaign for it at meetings like last night's?

Right, 11:18. That's exactly right. What it took me several years to figure out is that our illustrious mayor does all kinds of things, but in such a way as to keep his hands clean. Then, you can't find that all-illusive PROOF!